How to List Skills on a CV: 19+ Examples and Best Practices

Listing skills on a CV may not seem particularly difficult, but there are certain ways to maximise their effectiveness in your job application. 

Before you start, you need to know which ones belong on your CV in the first place. This article sets out to help you learn which skills are in demand, how to include them in different CV sections properly, and what mistakes to avoid.

So, let’s begin!

Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills: What Are the Differences?

The main difference between hard and soft skills is that the former are job-related competencies, while the latter are personal attributes that impact your work.

Simply put, hard skills are technical and specific to your industry. For instance, if you are a web developer, you’ll know how to use programming languages, while a marketing expert needs to be excellent at branding and market research. These skills can be tested using practical tests or by asking for certificates that prove you possess them.

On the other hand, soft skills are your personality traits, like communication or leadership, that can be used in professional settings. They can also be developed, but can’t be measured or easily tested; they only become apparent during an interview or once you actually begin working.

Both hard and soft skills deserve a place on your CV, as they paint a detailed picture of who you are as an employee. Priority is often given to hard skills due to their measurability, but soft skills shouldn’t be overlooked either.

13 Hard Skills to Add to Your CV

Hard skills should be added to your CV first; in other words, the skills section should open with technical, measurable, and industry-specific capabilities.

Here are the most relevant ones.

#1. Data Analysis

Data analysis involves handling, organising, and understanding information, as well as applying it to various processes. Unsurprisingly, this skill is crucial to data analysts, engineers, and scientists, but it can be helpful in multiple other professions, too, especially those that require problem-solving.

When listing data analysis as a skill on your CV, you can include it as it is or be more specific. If you choose the latter, here are a few related skills you might add:

#2. Programming Languages

Programming languages are among the crucial professional skills for CVs in the IT sector. However, they are valued outside of this field, too; for instance, mathematicians and engineers with basic programming knowledge may be at an advantage over those who don’t have it.

When listing the programming languages you’re familiar with, start with the most relevant ones. For instance, if you know the role you’re applying for requires C++, place it at the top of the list and add others as a bonus.

Here are some other programming languages you can include on your CV:

#3. Mathematical and Statistical Skills

Mathematical and statistical skills are helpful across many fields, including data science, finance, academia, research, and engineering. Even beyond these, expertise in math can demonstrate your analytical mind and problem-solving abilities, which are useful in many other professions.

Here are several mathematical skills to put on a CV:

#4. Research Skills

Research skills have versatile applications; they are useful in science, data analysis, content or academic writing, and many other fields. In fact, practically any white-collar industry can benefit from employees with strong research skills, as they can find the correct data and use it to develop innovative solutions.

So, here are a few examples of research skills you can put on your CV:

#5. Computer Skills

Computer skills should be included on every CV, even if your profession has little to do with computers. Nowadays, every employer expects a basic understanding of standard software and is, therefore, unlikely to hire someone with no skills whatsoever.

In fact, these abilities can often be included as a section separate from other skills. That way, hiring managers will spot them immediately and ascertain your capability with a single glance.

Having said that, here are some computer skills to include on a CV:

#6. Marketing Skills

Marketing skills encompass a range of capabilities related to finding the best ways to present and sell a product to customers. Although this may seem like a relatively straightforward process, many components must work together to achieve success.

So, marketing experts must possess a lot of special skills, such as:

#7. Languages

Languages are typically added as a separate section on a CV. Rather than just listing the ones you speak, you should also disclose your proficiency level. That way, the employer will know what duties you can handle in a specific language.

When adding your proficiency levels, you can use descriptive language, such as “native/bilingual”, “fluent”, “proficient”, “conversational”, or “basic.” However, you may also opt for the widely used CEFR scale labels, ranging from A1 (beginner) to C2 (near-native).

Aside from speaking specific languages, these are other language-related skills you could include:

#8. Design Skills

Design skills are essential in the CVs of various kinds of designers: graphic, UX, web, industrial, fashion, and many others. They typically encompass specific abilities and proficiency in design software that streamlines a designer’s process and maximises their efficiency.

Here are some design skills for a CV you shouldn’t miss mentioning in case you possess them:

#9. Project Management

Project management skills are particularly useful for team leaders and supervisors, but many other professionals can benefit from these abilities. For instance, entrepreneurs and business owners need to know how to manage projects effectively, as do HR professionals, scientists, engineers, designers, and general contractors.

Even freelancers need excellent project management skills; after all, they are entirely in charge of their work and tasks, so they need to organise it in the most efficient way.

Here are some of the best project management-related skills to put on a CV:

#10. Engineering Skills

Every engineer's CV should contain a set of engineering skills. These may vary somewhat depending on the field, but they generally encompass common competencies and software that support the engineering process.

With that in mind, here are the best engineering skills to include on a CV:

#11. Trade Skills

Working in trade jobs requires practical, hands-on skills that differ from vocation to vocation. Generally, these are obtained through apprenticeships, vocational training, and fieldwork instead of schools and universities.

So, for example, electricians might have the following trade skills:

On the other hand, plumbers should include the following on their CVs:

Another example is construction workers, who typically benefit from these skills:

Aside from these, there are other trades with their own skill sets, such as metalwork, mechanics, manufacturing, carpentry, and more.

#12. Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)

Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) skills are relevant for jobs in digital marketing, online content creation, UX design, and some other internet-based professions. Essentially, it’s all about optimising websites and web pages to increase their outreach and drive traffic to specific products or services.

Digital marketing specialists aren’t the only ones who need and possess this skill; influencers, content writers, bloggers, and developers also do. In fact, most businesses nowadays have an online presence and need someone with rudimentary SEO knowledge to help them.

Here are some SEO skills you should consider putting on your CV:

#13. Writing

Writing is essential in numerous industries, from digital marketing to client communication. It is also indispensable in academia, as writing research papers is a crucial aspect of a scholar’s job.

So, here are some writing skills you can use to strengthen your CV:

6 Soft Skills to Add to Your CV

Soft skills to add to your CV include communication, attention to detail, flexibility, organisational skills, emotional intelligence, and leadership skills.

In this section, we will examine this list of soft skills for a CV in more detail.

#1. Communication Skills

Communication skills should be on a CV regardless of your field. In particular, they are irreplaceable for sales representatives, team leaders, customer service agents, and other professionals in customer-facing roles.

Still, good communication skills can go a long way, even when working in a more solitary position or entirely by yourself. After all, you’ll likely occasionally find yourself in a team or talking to clients who purchase your goods and services.

#2. Attention to Detail

Attention to detail is another transferable soft skill that can be applied to various roles and industries. Employers love it when their employees notice mistakes that someone less observant would miss and know how to apply themselves fully to each task. This ensures that the projects they are working on can be completed smoothly and without a hitch.

This ability is particularly important in professions that involve dealing with high quantities of data, such as data analysis, financial analysis, accounting, or bookkeeping. However, electricians, builders, plumbers, and other trade professionals must also be detail-oriented to spot potential problems and fix them accordingly.

#3. Flexibility

Flexibility means that you feel comfortable with change, can adapt to various situations, and quickly acquire the skills you need for a specific task. This soft skill is particularly important in dynamic, stressful roles, such as those of a CEO, paramedic, customer support agent, event planner, or flight attendant.

Yet, even if you work a more relaxing job, staying flexible ensures that you remain open to new ideas that could improve your professional life. After all, most employers want open-minded people to join their companies, as this usually breeds innovation.

#4. Organisational Skills

Organisational skills refer to how well you manage your time, juggle different tasks, plan and schedule, and delegate responsibilities. Every employee must have at least rudimentary organisational skills; even if they aren’t a manager or team leader, they are still responsible for their personal coordination.

And yet, if you are a manager, organisational skills are among the most important ones you can possess. Projects and people will depend on your ability to coordinate everything, and you need to know how to organise the team’s tasks so that everything runs like a well-oiled machine.

#5. Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills should be on a CV because they significantly impact people-oriented careers. They allow you to understand people’s feelings and needs and respond to them appropriately, to the best of your abilities.

For instance, doctors, nurses, teachers, and other caretakers should have high emotional intelligence to help them deal with patients and students. Sales representatives and customer service agents need it, too; otherwise, they might drive clients away with their carelessness.

#6. Leadership Skills

Every team leader, manager, and CEO must possess leadership skills to effectively manage and direct their employees. Some people are naturally gifted in this department, while others may need more time to learn and develop them.

Some examples of leadership skills include decision-making, problem-solving, strategic thinking, team management, and the ability to inspire and motivate others. Essentially, a good leader must be highly analytical and forward-thinking, yet also empathetic and considerate of their employees’ needs.

What Are Transferable Skills, and Why Are They Important?

Transferable skills are abilities that aren’t tied to a specific role or field. In fact, they can be applied across different industries and still be just as valuable, making them incredibly important for people who decide to embark on a new career path.

For instance, let’s say you worked as a tutor and sharpened your interpersonal skills through daily interactions with students. Now, you want to make a complete switch and become a customer service representative. The interpersonal skills you’ve gained as a tutor will be just as useful in your new role, essentially transferring from one industry to another.

These skills are excellent for filling gaps in your CV caused by a lack of experience. Aside from those who change their careers, students often rely on these skills to strengthen their applications, as they have little experience and practical capabilities to offer.

Typically, soft skills fall under the category of transferable abilities because they refer to personal traits an employee brings to the professional environment. Such skills include communication, attention to detail, emotional intelligence, and other abilities that are welcome across most industries and positions.

20 Most In-Demand Skills in 2025

The most in-demand skills in 2025 are related to tech, AI, data analysis, and digital marketing. This shows a noticeable trend of moving towards computer-based careers and away from traditional occupations such as law, medicine, brick-and-mortar retail, or trade jobs.

Having said that, some of the top skills employers look for include:

On top of these hard skills that are a must-have on the labour market in 2025, you should also possess specific soft skills to stand out from the crowd. Some of the most sought-after ones include:

How to Know Which Skills to Put on Your CV

To know which skills to put on your CV, you need to analyse the job description, match skills to the job requirements, or, alternatively, use our AI helper. By doing so, you’ll avoid cluttering your application with irrelevant information.

Let’s examine these few methods of figuring out what skills belong on your CV in more detail:

Where to Add Skills on Your CV

You can add skills to your CV in several places, including the skills section, professional summary, experience section, and education section.

Now, let’s examine how to properly list skills in each part:

Skills Section

Most of your competencies will be included in the skills section, which is a vital part of your CV. Typically, it is placed below the education and work experience segments, but it can be given higher priority in skill-based applications. These are often used by recent graduates and people with little background in the field they are applying for.

When listing skills in this section, use bullet points and keep it short. There’s no need to explain what each skill means; most employers know that already and don’t want to read long descriptions under each point.

If you want to include many skills, it’s best to group them and place them under new headings. This is often done for programming languages, software, and spoken languages, which may constitute their own sections.

Now, here is an example of how to list hard and soft skills on a CV:

Professional Summary

Some of your skills should find their way into the professional summary placed at the top of your CV. That way, recruiters will see them right away, even before they thoroughly review your application.

However, a professional summary isn’t the place for adding too many skills, as it should be kept short and also include your experience and relevant accomplishments.

Keeping that in mind, here is how you could add skills to this section:

Work Experience Section

The work experience section offers another opportunity to include your skills in a CV, though, once again, you shouldn’t go overboard. Just mention a few in the bullet points underneath your previous job title and company, along with your specific accomplishments.

This is what that might look like:

4 Mistakes to Avoid When Adding Skills to Your CV

When adding skills to your CV, you should be careful not to fall into common traps many job seekers fail to avoid. These mistakes can harm your application, making you seem less professional or even disqualifying you from further rounds of the candidate selection process.

So, here are the common errors you need to avoid in the skills section of your CV:

Build a Job-Winning CV for Any Position

If you need help figuring out which skills to put on your CV, use our professional CV builder to create this and other sections. In under 15 minutes, you’ll have a brand-new document, complete with your skillset generated by our quick AI helper.

For further help, you can take a look at our library of CV examples and see how to include skills on a CV without cluttering the document. Check out the documents from your industry—that’s bound to inspire you!

Final Thoughts

And that’s everything!

Now you know which skills belong on a CV and how to properly include them to improve your application. Stick to our CV writing tips to impress hiring managers and land a few job interviews and even your dream job. 

If you still struggle to write an effective skills section, use one of our CV templates. We’ve already prepared the layout and most of the content for you; you just need to enter your information and send the application!

Skills on a CV FAQ

#1. What are the top 5 skills to put on a CV?

The top five skills to put on a CV are communication, organisation, computer literacy, time management, and languages spoken. Make sure to include a good mix of hard and soft skills and focus on those that match the requirements in the job description.

#2. How many skills should I list in a CV?

You should list approximately 6–12 skills on your CV; more than that is allowed, but you shouldn’t overdo it. Columns of skills may seem impressive at first glance, but they actually make the application appear messy, which isn’t a good look. This may also prevent the recruiters from finding the skills they need immediately.

#3. How do employers check the skills on your CV?

Employers check the skills on your CV either by asking you for certificates for specific hard skills or testing your soft skills during the interview. Sometimes, they may give you practical tests, too. For instance, if your CV claims you can write, you might be asked to complete a writing assignment or other hands-on tests. As a result, lying about your skills isn’t recommended.